ATAGI Recommends Booster Shot

February 10, 2023

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended all adults aged 65 years and over should receive a 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if their last COVID vaccination – or confirmed infection – was six months ago or longer.

This is regardless of the number of prior COVID-19 vaccinations previously received.

The official advice, released this week, also recommends that adults aged 18-64 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or a disability with significant or complex health needs, also receive the 2023 vaccine booster.

However, adults aged 18-64 without risk factors for severe COVID-19 should still consider receiving a booster shot if their last COVID vaccination or confirmed infection was six months ago or longer.

Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or a disability with significant or complex health needs, should also be considered for vaccination.

But ATAGI  has not recommended a booster dose for children and adolescents aged under the age of 18 who do not have any risk factors for severe COVID-19.

“All currently available COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to provide benefit as a booster dose, however bivalent mRNA booster vaccines are preferred over other vaccines,” ATAGI stated.

“These include: Pfizer Original/Omicron BA.4/5, as well as Pfizer Original/Omicron BA.1 or Moderna Original/Omicron BA.1.

“Moderna Original/Omicron BA.4/5 is currently under evaluation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

“COVID-19 vaccine can be co-administered with influenza and other vaccines.

“Administration of a 2023 COVID-19 booster dose should aim to occur prior to June 2023 and at a time of six months or greater following the most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection.

“Ongoing surveillance of COVID-19 infection rates and clinical outcomes, new variants, and vaccine effectiveness will inform future recommendations for additional booster doses.”

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Another 33 deaths have been added to Queensland’s official COVID-19 death toll, taking the tally since the pandemic began to 2710.

The latest figures were released by Queensland Health on Friday morning.

The figures – which record the number of people who had tested positive to COVID-19 around the time of their death – were recorded between February 1-7.

As well, 183 people were being treated for COVID-19 in Queensland hospitals, including six in intensive care units.